4cr Plays – Tappingo 2

Hugo Smits is back with Goodbye Galaxy Games’ latest 3DS release: Tappingo 2! I’ve been looking for a sequel since the moment I completed the last puzzle in Tappingo. More of the same is exactly what I wanted, and more of the same is exactly what we’re getting.

I redeemed my review code as soon as I noticed it had hit my inbox, and a few minutes later I was ready to try the new puzzles. For those of you that didn’t play Tappingo (shame on you!), the premise is easy to understand and addictive. The upper screen shows a 3D image of what you’re building on the lower screen, and gives you clues to what the final figure will be.

Each of the puzzles is completed by touching one of the pixels with a number, and sliding the stylus in one of four directions. The number on the pixel states the number of squares it needs to stretch, and an “OK!” will let you know if it’s the right size (but not necessarily in the right place!). Another thing to consider is that the line you’re stretching will not stop until it hits something else, and a red number will remind you how many squares you’re “over the limit.”

As was the case with Tappingo, the first 40-50 puzzles (out of more than 100) will usually take you less than a minute to complete, but after that puzzles get more complicated and they start to grow in size. The bigger puzzles also stand out because they showcase the one new element of Tappingo 2: Zooming! One of the complaints I heard about the original Tappingo is that there was no way to zoom on bigger puzzles, the new zoom feature should really help players who were requesting that feature.

Something else that made me smile was seeing several characters from other indie hits (Toki Tori, Ace from Goodbye Galaxy Games’ own Ace Mathician, one of the enemies from Mutant Muds). I love it when indies cooperate and support each other instead of trying to one-up each other.

Having 100 puzzles in Tappingo 2 might not seem like much – especially after reading that the first 50 puzzles can be completed in less than a minute, but after that threshold the puzzles grow in size and complexity and take more time to finish. Overall, you’re looking at around 5-6 hours depending on skill, which is great for a game that costs $2.99.

Now all I need is for Tappingo 3 in early 2015! You hear me, Hugo? Get. To. It.

Want a free copy of Tappingo 2? Then follow @4colorrebellion and @HugoSmits and leave a comment below with your Twitter handle for a chance to win! US-only codes this time around.

I thought the first game was fine, especially for its price, but way too easy. Still, I’m curious about Tappingo 2. Doesn’t sound like they ramped things up quite enough, but I like Picross-style puzzle games enough to give it a go.